Daemongar: What I've been able to find out about the Feramic clutch discs is that they're pretty popular with the volkswagon crowd, and that people generally aren't recommending them (on VW's) for street cars, because you can't really slip them very much (ie. they'll heat up quick under stop-and-go conditions).
Daemongar: Found out who's making the AMS Feramic clutch. It's some guy named Gabor from the GatewayDSM list. Trying to track down info about it now.
Hmmm, interesting discussions regarding the makeup of this clutch. The guy used to use 2600's, and built this one in response to problems he had (pressure plate warping under heavy drag loads, and not being able to find someone who can resurface the pressure plate).
Daemongar: Interesting. The Feramic clutch is $325. There's no break-in period (ie. you can get on it as soon as it's installed), and launching consists of “rev to 6000 RPM, release the clutch as fast as possible, and mash the gas”.
Daemongar: So, easier to drive day-to-day because of the lower pedal pressure, cheaper (by about $75) than a 2600, and simplified launches. Folks on the GatewayDSM board have apparently been running these things for years (one guy claimed 22,000 miles on his “Gabor clutch”).
Daemongar: Quote from DSMtuners: NO break in required (although i did a 100mile one on mine) and i have pulled low 1.7 60fts on this clutch and it has 20k miles on it right now.
Daemongar: Ahhh! Apparently, it uses the stock pressure plate; that's why the pedal pressure is so light.
Daemongar: It's just a “magic” clutch disc.
Daemongar: Wow. The President/CTO of ACT posted a few times in a thread about Gabor's feramic clutches.
Daemongar: Interesting thing to note: ACT takes a stock pressure plate and modifies it for more clamping force, just like Gabor with his setup. The discs appear to be where most of the “custom” work of these clutches is at.
Daemongar: Heh, Gabor and the president of ACT are getting into a pretty good argument over how ACT clutches warp.
NewB2dsm: I have it, love it. Alot of people from st.louis have it and love it. The person who got this clutch out to the dsm people is from st.louis so tahts why we all here have it and no one that has gotten it has complained about it. Everyone loves it. Like i said it has gone 11's on one of ams evos. I know of a 20g car around here that runs 12s and has it. Also it holds and holds well, no slipping or anything. My personal opion is its a great clutch and i would go for it.
i made 7 passes in 45 mintues all 60fts 1.9 or below. THis was before i learned how to launch the car so they were all high 1.8 and low 1.9's WIth no slipping. Then i made 4 passes in an hour and all were 1.7 60fts launching from 6k. So it can handle repeated launches.
I have had mine for 20,000 miles now and the first 10 i really didnt drive it hard but still put it to good use. But i was getting all my upgrades done. The last 10k i have put quite a few passes on it, beat it to hell really. And it still holds. There was a kid who had 25k on his and he took it out (7bolt walked on him) and it looked brand new. Mine has the 20k on it and still holding perfectly fine.
Iv heard different things from different people on drivablity. Some say it grabs too hard for them (only 2 people iv herd say this and they were pretty much stock) But everyone else loves it. Drivablity is not hurt like a 6 puck or somthing also peddle pressure is stock, since its a stock pressure plate still. Some people say when they got it that they didnt care for the “feel” of the clutch but put on a SS clutch line and those problems went away. I have not had these problems with it and im still using stock clutch line and i like it. YOu can slip it unlike a puck disc. and it is ment to take a beating. I like it and im sure other people will too. It will be the clutch i get over and over again.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89545&highlight=ACT+clutch
From the AMS website: http://www.automotosports.com/dsm_drivetrain.asp
This clutch is intended as an alternative to a 2600 in 2G cars that are prone to crankwalk, or any other DSM owner looking for the holding power of a heavy clutch with the pedal pressure of an ACT 2100. The way this is achieved is through a new clutch disc material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the ACT street compound while retaining it's drivability. This clutch will stand up to repeated launches and should have a lifespan equal to or better than the ACT street series of clutches.
We have already sold out of these clutches twice, and everyone was more than satisfied Call for avalability as they sell fast.